Speeding up remote copy operation by transmitting resolution-dependent print data via network if processing apparatus and output apparatus information match

ABSTRACT

An image processing apparatus includes a resolution-independent data generation unit which generates resolution-independent data, which does not depend on a resolution, from input data, a resolution-dependent data generation unit which generates resolution-dependent data, which depends on a resolution and is used to be rendered to bitmap data, from the generated resolution-independent data, a saving unit which saves the generated resolution-independent data and the generated resolution-dependent data, an apparatus information acquisition unit which acquires image output apparatus information associated with the image output apparatus, an apparatus information determination unit which determines whether or not the image output apparatus information matches image processing apparatus information associated with the image processing apparatus, and a data transmission unit which transmits the resolution-dependent data as the output data when it is determined that the image output apparatus information matches the image processing apparatus information.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus whichexchanges print data with another apparatus via a network.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, a remote copy technique that outputs image data input byan image input apparatus such as a scanner or the like connected to anetwork to an independent image output apparatus represented by aprinter or the like is popularly used. In general, a processing mode inwhich scan and print operations in the conventional copy operation areexecuted by different apparatuses on the network so that an originalimage scanned by the image input apparatus is printed out by the imageoutput apparatus is called “remote copy”. On the other hand, aprocessing mode in which a series of operations from the scan operationto the print operation are executed by a single apparatus is known as“local copy”.

When the local copy function cannot be used since the printer functionof the image input apparatus executes, for example, print processing ofanother job by the remote copy function, that image input apparatus cancontrol another apparatus on the network to alternatively execute theprint operation using its remote copy function. Also, when a copy outputis manually distributed to a user at a remote place, it can be printedout by an apparatus placed near that user using the remote copyfunction, thus saving the man-hours required for such manualdistribution.

Various techniques have been developed in association with such remotecopy technique. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-331455 discloses aremote copy system which can select an optimal image output apparatusbased on the copy condition set by a system user. Japanese PatentLaid-Open No. 8-163345 discloses an image processing apparatus whichsynchronously outputs input image data to a plurality of imageprocessing apparatuses to improve productivity.

Furthermore, in recent years, as described in Japanese Patent Laid-OpenNo. 2006-23942, a technique that converts bitmap data input by, forexample, scanning or the like into resolution-independent vector datahas also been developed. Using such technique, upon execution of theremote copy, data can be sent to the image output apparatus in thevector data format. Furthermore, in this case, since the image outputapparatus renders the vector data to bitmap data, the bitmap data neednot undergo resolution conversion. Therefore, image deterioration of thebitmap data due to the resolution conversion processing can beprevented, thus implementing a high-quality remote copy.

However, in such high-quality remote copy system, since the image outputapparatus needs to sequentially interpret and render vector data thatdescribes complicated rendering data, the number of processing stepsincreases, resulting in a long remote copy processing time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an image processing apparatus which canspeed up the processing in a remote apparatus upon execution of theremote copy.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a image processing apparatus for transmitting output data to anexternal image output apparatus according to a remote copy instruction,the apparatus comprises:

a resolution-independent data generation unit configured to generateresolution-independent data, which does not depend on a resolution, frominput data;

a resolution-dependent data generation unit configured to generateresolution-dependent data, which depends on a resolution and is used tobe rendered to bitmap data, from the resolution-independent datagenerated by the resolution-independent data generation unit;

a saving unit configured to save the resolution-independent datagenerated by the resolution-independent data generation unit and theresolution-dependent data generated by the resolution-dependent datageneration unit;

an apparatus information acquisition unit configured to acquire imageoutput apparatus information associated with the image output apparatus;

an apparatus information determination unit configured to determinewhether or not the image output apparatus information matches imageprocessing apparatus information associated with the image processingapparatus; and

a data transmission unit configured to, when the apparatus informationdetermination unit determines that the image output apparatusinformation matches the image processing apparatus information, transmitthe resolution-dependent data as the output data.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an image processing method for transmitting output data to anexternal image output apparatus according to a remote copy instruction,the method comprises:

a resolution-independent data generation step of generatingresolution-independent data, which does not depend on a resolution, frominput data;

a resolution-dependent data generation step of generatingresolution-dependent data, which depends on a resolution and is used tobe rendered to bitmap data, from the generated resolution-independentdata;

a saving step of saving the generated resolution-independent data andthe generated resolution-dependent data;

an apparatus information acquisition step of acquiring image outputapparatus information associated with the image output apparatus;

an apparatus information determination step of determining whether ornot the image output apparatus information matches image processingapparatus information associated with an image processing apparatus; and

a data transmission step of transmitting, when it is determined that theimage output apparatus information matches the image processingapparatus information, the resolution-dependent data as the output data.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a computer-readable medium storing a program for transmittingoutput data to an external image output apparatus according to a remotecopy instruction, the program causing a computer to function to:

generate resolution-independent data, which does not depend on aresolution, from input data;

generate resolution-dependent data, which depends on a resolution and isused to be rendered to bitmap data, from the generatedresolution-independent data;

save the generated resolution-independent data and the generatedresolution-dependent data;

acquire image output apparatus information associated with the imageoutput apparatus;

determine whether or not the image output apparatus information matchesimage processing apparatus information associated with an imageprocessing apparatus; and

transmit, when it is determined that the image output apparatusinformation matches the image processing apparatus information, theresolution-dependent data as the output data.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an image processing apparatus for transmitting output data toan external image output apparatus according to a remote copyinstruction, the apparatus comprises:

resolution-independent data generation unit configured to generateresolution-independent data, which does not depend on a resolution, frominput data; an additional information data generation unit configured togenerate additional information data, which is appended to the inputdata as additional information and is used to search for the input data,from the input data;

a resolution-dependent data generation unit configured to generateresolution-dependent data, which is used to be rendered to bitmap dataand depends on a resolution, from the resolution-independent datagenerated by the resolution-independent data generation unit;

a saving unit configured to save the resolution-independent datagenerated by the resolution-independent data generation unit, theadditional information data generated by the additional informationgeneration unit, and the resolution-dependent data generated by theresolution-dependent data generation unit; and

a data transmission unit configured to, when the output data isinstructed to be saved in a storage area in the image output apparatusby a user's operation, transmit the resolution-independent data and theadditional information data as the output data.

According to the present invention, upon execution of the remote copy,the processing in a remote apparatus can be sped up.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments with reference to theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view showing the overall arrangement of an image processingsystem according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the overall arrangement of an MFPaccording to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a control unit ofthe MFP;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of softwareinstalled in the MFP;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the sequence of processing of the MFP uponexecution of a remote copy function according to the embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 shows an example of a window displayed on a operating unit of alocal MFP when the user instructs a remote copy;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an overview of the overall sequence upongeneration of a document at the time of a scan operation;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the sequence of metadata generationprocessing in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 shows an example obtained upon application of region segmentationto an input image;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an overview of the overall sequence upongeneration of a document in a PDL print mode;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the sequence for generating vector dataand metadata in association with segmented region types;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the sequence of processing for printing agenerated document;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the sequence of print processing of agenerated document in the PDL print mode;

FIG. 14 shows the data structure of a document;

FIG. 15 shows an example of the data configuration of a document;

FIG. 16A shows an example of the document shown in FIG. 14 allocated ona memory;

FIG. 16B shows an example of the document shown in FIG. 14 allocated ona file;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the sequence of transfer data selectionprocessing according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing processing on the remote apparatus sideupon execution of the remote copy function;

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the sequence of transfer data selectionprocessing according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the sequence of transfer data selectionprocessing according to the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 shows another example of the window displayed on a display unitof the operating unit when the user gives the instruction for a remotecopy in the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing the sequence of transfer data selectionprocessing according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention;and

FIG. 23 is a view showing an example when the user designates a box savemode in the embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The best mode for carrying out the invention will be described in detailhereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that thesame reference numerals denote the same components, and a repetitivedescription thereof will be avoided.

FIG. 1 is a view showing the overall arrangement of an image processingsystem according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, in this imageprocessing system, image processing apparatuses 1, 2, and 3 areconnected via a network such as a LAN or the like. In this embodiment,an MFP (Multi-Function Peripheral) of a 1D color system is used as theimage processing apparatuses 1 to 3. The MFP indicates a multi-functiondevice that combines a variety of functions such as a printer function,copy function, FAX function, scan function, and the like. In thefollowing description, the image processing apparatus will also bereferred to as an MFP. In FIG. 1, the MFPs 1, 2, and 3 respectively havesecondary storage devices (storage areas). As the secondary storagedevice, for example, a hard disk drive can be used.

The MFPs 1, 2, and 3 shown in FIG. 1 respectively have unique printerengines. Therefore, the printer engines of the MFPs 1, 2, and 3respectively have different output resolutions (to be simply referred toas resolutions hereinafter). In this embodiment, assume that theresolutions of the printer engines in the MFPs 1 and 3 are 600 dpi, andthat of the printer engine in the MFP 2 is 1200 dpi. The MFPs 1, 2, and3 respectively have unique renderers. The renderer is also called arasterizer, which is normally implemented by hardware such as an ASIC orthe like. The renderer can process rendering instructions to render themto bitmap data. The rendering instructions to be processed by therenderer are generally called a display list, which can be generated bysoftware based on vector data described using complicated renderinginformation. Such display list is resolution-dependent data depending onthe resolution of the printer engine equipped in the apparatus since itcan be processed by hardware. On the other hand, since the vector datadoes not depend on the resolution, it will also be referred to asresolution-independent data in this embodiment. In this embodiment, therenderers of the MFPs 1 and 2 are represented by “RA”, and that of theMFP 3 is represented by “RB”. The MFPs 1, 2, and 3 shown in FIG. 1 cancommunicate with each other using a network protocol. In FIG. 1, forexample, a versatile PC, server, and printer may be connected to thenetwork.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the overall arrangement of the MFPaccording to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG.2, the MFP 1 includes a scanner unit 11, laser exposure unit 12, imageforming unit 13, fixing unit 14, feed-conveyance unit 15, and a printercontrol unit (not shown). The scanner unit 11 generates image data byoptically scanning an image of an original by irradiating the originalplaced on a document table with an illumination, and converting theimage of the original into an electrical signal. The laser exposure unit12 emits light rays such as a laser beam or the like modulated accordingto the generated image data to enter a rotary polygon mirror, whichrotates at an equal angular velocity, and irradiates a photosensitivedrum with reflected scanning light reflected by the mirror. The imageforming unit 13 rotates the photosensitive drum, and charges it by acharger. The image forming unit 13 develops a latent image formed on thephotosensitive drum by the laser exposure unit using toner. Thedeveloped toner image is transferred onto a sheet, and small residualtoner on the photosensitive drum is recovered. By executing such aseries of electrophotography processes in the image forming unit 13, animage is formed. During four rotations of a sheet which is conveyed bythe feed-conveyance unit 15 and is wound around at the predeterminedposition of a transfer belt, developing units having magenta (M), cyan(C), yellow (Y), and black (K) toners repeat the electrophotographyprocesses in turn. As a result, a sheet on which a full-color tonerimage of four colors is transferred leaves a transfer drum, and isconveyed to the fixing unit 14. The fixing unit 14 comprises acombination of rollers and belts, and incorporates a heat source such asa halogen heater or the like. The toner on the sheet on which the tonerimage is transferred by the image forming unit 13 is melt and fixed byheat and pressure in the fixing unit 14. The feed-conveyance unit 15 hasat least one sheet storage such as a sheet cassette, paper deck, and thelike. The feed-conveyance unit 15 separates one of a plurality of sheetsstored in the sheet storage, and conveys it to the image forming unit 13or fixing unit 14 in accordance with an instruction from the printercontrol unit (not shown). The sheet conveyed to the image forming unit13 is wound around the transfer drum, and is conveyed to the fixing unit14 after four rotations. As has already been described above, colortoner images of magenta, cyan, yellow, and black are transferred ontothe sheet during the four rotations. Upon forming images on the twofaces of the sheet, the sheet that passed through the fixing unit 14 iscontrolled to be conveyed to the image forming unit 13 again. Theprinter control unit (not shown) controls the scanner unit 11, laserexposure unit 12, image forming unit 13, fixing unit 14, andfeed-conveyance unit 15 while communicating with an MFP control unitwhich controls the overall MFP 1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a control unit ofthe MFP. A control unit 300 is connected to a scanner 301 as an imageinput device and a printer engine 302 as an image output device, andcontrols them to scan or print out image data. The control unit 300 isconnected to a network and public line, and controls to exchange imageinformation, device information, and the like via the network and publicline.

A CPU 305 is a central processing unit used to control the overall MFP1. A RAM 306 is a system work memory used when the CPU 305 operates, andis also used as an image memory for temporarily storing input imagedata. A ROM 307 is a boot ROM, which stores, for example, a boot programof the system. An HDD 308 is a hard disk drive, which can store, forexample, system software for various kinds of processing, and inputimage data. A operating unit interface 309 is an interface with aoperating unit 310 which has a display screen that can display imagedata and the like, and can output operation window data to the operatingunit 310. The operating unit interface 309 supplies information input bythe user at the operating unit 310 to the CPU 305. A network interface311 comprises, for example, a LAN card, and can exchange informationwith an external apparatus when it is connected to a LAN. Furthermore, amodem 312 is connected to the public line, and can exchange informationwith an external apparatus. The aforementioned function blocks from theCPU 305 to the modem 312 are connected to a system bus 313 and cancommunicate with each other.

An image bus interface 314 is a bus bridge which connects the system bus313 and an image bus 315 that transfers image data at high speed, andcan convert the data structure between the system bus 313 and image bus315. As shown in FIG. 3, a raster image processor 316, device interface317, scanner image processing unit 318, printer image processing unit319, image edit image processing unit 320, and color management module330 are connected to the image bus 315. The raster image processor 316can render PDL (Page Description Language) code data and vector data toimage data. The device interface 317 connects the scanner 301 andprinter engine 302 to the control unit 300, and can convert synchronousor asynchronous communications of image data. The scanner imageprocessing unit 318 applies processing such as correction, modification,editing, and the like to image data input from the scanner 301. Theprinter image processing unit 319 applies processing such as correction,resolution conversion, and the like according to the printer engine 302to image data to be printed out. The image edit image processing unit320 applies image processing such as rotation,compression/decompression, and the like to image data. The colormanagement module 330 is a dedicated hardware module which applies colorconversion processing to image data based on a profile and calibrationdata. Note that the profile is information used to convert color imagedata expressed on a device-dependent color space into adevice-independent color space such as “L*a*b* color model” or the like.Also, the calibration data is data used when the color reproductioncharacteristics of the scanner 301 and printer engine 302 are to becorrected.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of softwareinstalled in the MFP. The software described in the configuration ofFIG. 4 serves as controller software for controlling the operation ofthe MFP. This controller software is stored in, for example, the HDD 308to operate the function blocks described using FIG. 3, therebyimplementing the functions of the MFP. A printer interface 400 is aninterface which communicates with an external apparatus via the network.A protocol control unit 401 interprets protocols in networkcommunications to allow communications of the MFP 1 with an externalapparatus. A vector data generating unit 402 generates (to be alsoreferred to as “vectorizes” hereinafter) vector data as aresolution-independent rendering description from bitmap image data. Ameta data generating unit 403 generates secondary information obtainedduring vectorization as metadata. In this embodiment, the generatedmetadata is used not for rendering but for a file search and the like asadditional data in the subsequent processes. A PDL interpreter 404converts a PDL code to an intermediate code in a format that allowshardware to easily process, for example, the aforementioned display listby interpreting the PDL code. The intermediate code generated by the PDLinterpreter 404 is supplied to a data rendering unit 405. The datarendering unit 405 renders the supplied intermediate code into bitmapdata by a renderer, and the rendered bitmap data is sequentially storedin a page memory 406 as a volatile memory. A panel input and outputcontrol unit 407 controls user's input and output operations on acontrol panel included in the operating unit 310. A document storageunit 408 is implemented by a secondary storage device such as a harddisk or the like, and stores data files each including vector data, adisplay list, and metadata for respective jobs of input image data. Suchdata file will be referred to as a “document” in this embodiment. A scancontrol unit 409 applies processing such as correction, modification,editing, and the like to image data input by the scanner 301. A printcontrol unit 410 converts the contents of the page memory 406 into avideo signal, and transfers the video signal to a printer engine unit411. The printer engine unit 411 is a print mechanism unit, which formsan image on a print sheet based on the transferred video signal.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the sequence of processing of the MFP uponexecution of a remote copy function according to the first embodiment ofthe present invention. The “remote copy” is a processing mode in whichscan and print operations in the conventional copy operation areexecuted by different apparatuses on the network, so that, for example,an original image scanned by the MFP 1 is printed out by the MFP 2. Onthe other hand, a processing mode in which a series of operations fromthe scan operation to the print operation are executed by a singleapparatus is called “local copy”.

For example, when the printer function of the MFP cannot execute thelocal copy since it executes print processing of another job, the remotecopy function can control another apparatus on the network toalternatively execute the print operation. Also, when a copy output ismanually distributed to a user at a remote place, it can be printed outby an apparatus placed near that user using the remote copy function,thus saving the man-hour required for such manual distribution. In thisembodiment, the MFP that executes the scan operation is called a localMFP and the MFP that executes the printout operation is called a remoteMFP.

In this embodiment, upon execution of the remote copy, one of the vectordata and display list can be selected as data to be transmitted from thelocal MFP to the remote MFP. The flowchart shown in FIG. 5 is executedby the CPU 305 in the control unit 300 of the local MFP. Alternatively,the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 may be executed by any of the functionblocks included in the control unit 300 under the control of the CPU305.

In step S501, the user sets an original on the scanner 301, and inputs aremote copy instruction using the control panel or the like included inthe operating unit 310. The control unit 300 can starts execution of theremote copy in response to the user's instruction. The user may makesettings for execution of the remote copy on the control panel of theoperating unit 310, and may press a copy start hardware key added to theMFP 1 to input the remote copy instruction. In step S502, the scanner301 scans the set original, which is fetched as an image (input data orbitmap data) by the local MFP. In step S503, the CPU 305 generates adocument from the fetched image. Details of processing for generating adocument based on the bitmap data will be described later. In step S504,the CPU 305 acquires apparatus information of the remote MFP designatedby the operating unit 310. That is, in this embodiment, For example, CPU305 of the local MFP as the image processing apparatus has apparatusinformation acquisition means (unit) for acquiring image outputapparatus information associated with the remote MFP as the image outputapparatus. Note that, for example, a general WSD protocol used in aninquiry about capability of each apparatus on the network may be used.The apparatus information to be acquired will be described later.

The process advances to step S505, and the CPU 305 selects data to betransmitted to the remote MFP from the generated document based on theacquired apparatus information.

Finally, in step S506 the CPU 305 transmits the selected data as a newdocument to the remote MFP, thus ending the processing.

As described above, according to this embodiment, upon execution of theremote copy, since the data to be transmitted to the remote MFP can beselected according to the acquired apparatus information of the remoteMFP, execution of the remote copy can be sped up. Details will bedescribed below.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a window displayed on the operating unit ofthe local MFP when the user inputs a remote copy instruction. A window601 is a window displayed on the operating unit so as to allow the userto make the settings of the remote copy and to start the remote copy,and is displayed when the user presses a remote copy mode button 602. Instep S501 shown in FIG. 5 already described above, the user can make thesettings about the remote copy using the window shown in FIG. 6.

When the user presses a printer selection button 603, a pull-down list(not shown) of remote apparatuses, which can be designated as the remotecopy output destination, is displayed to allow the user to select adesired remote apparatus. The name of the selected remote apparatus isdisplayed in a display field 604. A list of remote apparatuses that canbe designated as the remote copy output destination may be held in theapparatus in advance. Alternatively, the list of remote apparatuses thatcan be designated may be acquired from a server or the like, which isconnected to the network and manages such list. Also, a packet thatsearches for apparatuses which can accept a remote copy request may bebroadcast onto the network, and a list of apparatuses which return aresponse may be generated.

A button 605 is a box save selection button used to select whether ornot to save in a secondary storage device (to be also referred to as abox hereinafter) of the remote apparatus upon execution of the remotecopy. In this embodiment, the box save selection button is a togglecontrol button; when this button is pressed once, it is set in aselected state, and when the button is pressed again, it is set in anunselected state.

A scale designation button 606 allows the user to designate anenlargement or reduction scale in the remote copy mode. Upon pressingthe scale designation button 606, a scale designation window (not shown)is displayed, and the user can designate an enlargement or reductionscale on the window. Upon pressing “equal scale” of the scaledesignation button 606, the user can designate an enlargement/reductionscale=100% without displaying the scale designation window. Theenlargement or reduction scale designated by the user is displayed on adisplay field 607.

A paper selection button 608 allows the user to select a paper sheetused in the printout operation. When the user presses the paperselection button 608, a list of paper sizes that can be selected in theprintout operation is displayed. A paper size selected as a paper sheetused in the printout operation is displayed on a display field 609. Inthis embodiment, “AUTO” is selected. As a result, an original size isdetected upon scanning the original, and an optimal output sheet isautomatically selected in consideration of the enlargement or reductionscale of user's choice.

A display field 610 displays the number of copies upon execution of theremote copy. The user can set the number of copies by operating hardwarekeys (not shown). A finishing setting button 611 allows the user to makefinisher settings. Upon pressing the finishing setting button 611, afinisher setting window (not shown) is displayed, and the user can makesettings associated with various finishing modes such as a sort mode,staple mode, puncher mode, and the like for printed paper sheets.

A double-sided designation button 612 allows the user to designate adouble-sided copy mode. Upon pressing the double-sided designationbutton 612, a double-sided setting window (not shown) is displayed, andthe user can set a double- or single-sided mode, and the bindingdirection and the like upon setting the double-sided mode. An appliedfunction setting button 613 allows the user to make applied functionsettings. Upon pressing the applied function setting button 613, theuser can set advanced applied functions of the MFP such as a pagecontinuous shot mode, bookbinding mode, reduced-scale layout setting,and the like. A color mode setting button 614 allows the user to set acolor mode. Upon pressing the color mode setting button 614, a list of“color copy”, “monochrome copy”, and “AUTO” is displayed, and the usercan select a desired item. Upon selection of “color copy” or “monochromecopy”, the printout operation is made in the selected mode. On the otherhand, upon selection of “AUTO”, whether an original is a color ormonochrome original is automatically determined upon scanning theoriginal, and the color copy mode is executed for the color original orthe monochrome copy mode is executed for the monochrome original.

Processing for generating a document including vector data, a displaylist, and metadata in this embodiment will be described below.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an overview of the overall sequence upongeneration of a document at the time of the scan operation. Scanprocessing d1 converts a paper original set on the scanner unit 11 intobitmap data. Next, vectorize processing d2 and metadata generationprocessing d4 generate resolution-independent vector data and metadatafrom the bitmap data. That is, for example, CPU 305 of the imageprocessing apparatus serving as the local MFP has resolution-independentdata generation means (unit) for generating resolution-independentvector data, and additional information data generation means (unit) forgenerating metadata as additional information data.

Document generation processing d3 generates a document by associatingthe vector data and metadata. Next, display list generation processingd5 generates a display list from the vector data included in thedocument. That is, for example, CPU 305 of the image processingapparatus serving as the local MFP has resolution-dependent datageneration means (unit) for generating a resolution-dependent displaylist. The generated display list is stored in the document, and isrendered to bitmap data by rendering processing d7. Print processing d8prints the rendered bitmap data on a paper medium as a printed material.When the output printed material is set on the scanner unit 11 again,the processes from the scan processing d1 can be repeated.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the sequence of the processes in themetadata generation processing d4 in FIG. 7. As shown in FIG. 8, regionsegmentation processing d1 applies region segmentation to the bitmapdata. Note that the region segmentation analyzes input bitmap image datato segment the image data into regions for respective objects includedin the image data, and determines and categorizes attributes of therespective regions. The attributes include, for example, text “TEXT”,image “PHOTO”, line “LINE”, figure “PICTURE”, and table “TABLE”.

An example of the region segmentation will be described below. FIG. 9shows an example obtained upon applying the region segmentation to aninput image. A result of the region segmentation applied to an inputimage 91 is a determination result 92. Each part bounded by the dottedline in the determination result 92 represents one object unit generatedas a result of analyzing the image. The type of an attribute appended toeach object unit is the determination result of the region segmentation.

OCR processing d2 applies character recognition processing to eachregion indicated by the text attribute of those categorized forrespective attributes to convert that region into a character string.That is, the converted character string is that printed on a sheetsurface. Image information extraction processing d3 converts, into imageinformation, each region indicated by the image attribute of thosecategorized for respective regions. Note that the image information is acharacter string that represents the feature of an image, that is, acharacter string “flower”, “face”, or the like. The image informationextraction processing may use generally known image processingtechniques such as image feature detection for detecting image featuressuch as the frequencies, densities, and the like of pixels which form animage, facial recognition, and the like. Format conversion processing d4converts the generated character strings and image information to a dataformat (to be described later), thus generating metadata.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an overview of the overall sequence forgenerating a document in a PDL print mode. The PDL print mode is aprinter operation that outputs an image based on a page descriptionlanguage generated by a printer driver when the user, for example,issues a print instruction from application software installed in ageneral-purpose PC. In this embodiment, for example, LIPS (LBP ImageProcessing System, registered trademark) and PS (PostScript, registeredtrademark) are used as the PDL.

As shown in FIG. 10, PDL data interpretation processing d1 interpretsreceived PDL data to generate vector data. Display list generationprocessing d2 generates a display list from the vector data. Thegenerated display list is sent to rendering processing d3, and isrendered to bitmap data. Print processing d4 prints the rendered bitmapdata on a paper medium, thus forming a printed material. As describedabove using FIG. 8, metadata generation processing d5 generates thecharacter strings and image information as metadata from the bitmap datagenerated by the rendering processing d3. In the sequence shown in FIG.10, document generation processing d6 stores the generated vector data,display list, and metadata in a document. Upon generating metadata inFIG. 10, if the PDL data has character string information, metadata maybe generated from the character string information upon interpreting thePDL data, and may be stored in the document.

The sequences for generating the vector data and metadata have beendescribed using FIGS. 7 and 8. In practice, respective processes areoften executed for the segmented region types of the bitmap data. FIG.11 is a flowchart showing the sequence for generating vector data andmetadata in correspondence with the segmented region types.

In step S1101, the same region segmentation processing as in thedescription of FIG. 8 is executed. In step S1102, the region types, thatis, the attributes are categorized to “TEXT”, “GRAPHIC”, and “IMAGE”.For example, of the attributes categorized in FIG. 9, “PHOTO” and“PICTURE” are categorized to “IMAGE”, and “LINE” and “TABLE” arecategorized to “GRAPHIC”. If the attribute of a region is “TEXT” in stepS1102, the process advances to step S1103 to execute OCR processing, anda character string is extracted in step S1104. Furthermore, thecharacter string is converted into metadata in step S1105, and characteredges are converted into vector data in step S1106. The metadataconverted from the character string is a list of character codes, and isused in a keyword search of files and the like in this embodiment.However, the OCR processing in step S1103 can recognize character codes,but cannot recognize fonts such as Ming typeface, Gothic typeface, andthe like, the character sizes such as 10 pt and the like, and fontattributes such as Italic, Bold, and the like. However, in thisembodiment, since the character edges are converted into vector data instep S1106, information required upon rendering can be included.

If the attribute of a region is “IMAGE” in step S1102, the processadvances to step S1107 to execute image information extractionprocessing. In step S1107, image features are detected using a generallyknown image processing technique such as image feature amount detection,facial recognition, and the like as in the description of FIG. 8. Theprocess then advances to step S1108 to convert the image featuresdetected in step S1107 into character strings. Note that, for example,the MFP 1 may hold a correspondence table between parameters indicatingfeatures and character strings in the HDD 308 or the like. In stepS1109, the character strings are converted into metadata. If theattribute of a region is “IMAGE”, image data is held intact as vectordata. If the attribute of a region is “GRAPHIC” in step S1102, theprocess advances to step S1110 to execute vectorize processing.

In this embodiment, the document which includes the vector data, displaylist, and metadata is generated, and that document is printed in theremote copy mode. The document print sequence in this embodiment will bedescribed below.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the sequence of processing for printing agenerated document. Note that FIG. 12 does not show any step of sendingdata from the local MFP to the remote MFP.

In step S1201, the print control unit 410 receives the documentgenerated from the bitmap data (the document generation processing d3shown in FIG. 8). In step S1202, a display list is generated from thevector data included in the document. In step S1203, the generateddisplay list is added to the document. In step S1204, the display listis extracted from the document, and is rendered to bitmap data. Finally,print processing of the rendered data (output data) onto a paper mediumis executed in step S1205.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the sequence of print processing of agenerated document in the PDL print mode. Note that FIG. 13 does notshow any step of sending data from the local MFP to the remote MFP as inFIG. 12.

In step S1301, PDL data is interpreted. In step S1302, if the PDL dataincludes metadata such as character string information and the like,that metadata is added to a document by independent processing (stepS1309). Data other than the metadata are converted into vector data instep S1303, and a document is generated in step S1304. In step S1305, adisplay list is generated from the vector data. In step S1306, thegenerated display list is added to the document. In step S1307, thedisplay list is extracted from the document, and is rendered to bitmapdata. Finally, print processing of the rendered data (output data) ontoa paper medium is executed in step S1308.

The format of the document generated in this embodiment will bedescribed below.

FIG. 14 shows the data structure of the document. As shown in FIG. 14,the document includes the vector data, metadata, and display list, eachof which has a plurality of pages. Also, as shown in FIG. 14, thedocument has a hierarchical structure to have a document header 1401 asan uppermost layer. The vector data and display list respectively havepage headers 1402 and 1407, which are located in lower layers of thedocument header 1401. Since the document header 1401 describes thestorage locations of the vector data and display list in a memory or thelike, the vector data and display list are associated with each othervia the document header 1401. In the vector data, summaries 1403 areconfigured in lower layers of a plurality of page headers 1402. Thevector data is rendering data which does not depend on the resolution ofthe printer engine, and each page header 1402 describes layoutinformation including the size, orientation, and the like of a page. Asshown in FIG. 14, a plurality of summaries are associated with eachother, and objects 1404 are configured in lower layers of the respectivesummaries. To the objects 1404, rendering data such as a line, polygon,Bezier curve, and the like are linked one by one, and a plurality ofobjects are associated with one summary 1403 together. Each summary 1403describes information that summarizes the features of the plurality ofobjects, and describes, for example, the attribute information ofsegmented regions described in FIG. 9.

The metadata shown in FIG. 14 is not related to the renderingprocessing, and is used as additional information for, for example, afile search. As shown in FIG. 14, the metadata has a plurality of piecesof information each including page information 1405 and detailedinformation 1406. In this embodiment, the page information 1405describes, for example, information indicating that metadata isgenerated from the bitmap data or PDL data, and the detailed information1406 describes, for example, a character code string generated as OCRinformation or image information. In this embodiment, the summary 1403of the vector data can refer to the detailed information 1406 of thecorresponding page information 1405 of the metadata.

The display list shown in FIG. 14 is an intermediate code used uponrendering to bitmap data by the renderer. As shown in FIG. 14, thedisplay list includes the page headers 1407 and rendering instructions1408. In this embodiment, each page header 1407 describes a managementtable of rendering information (instruction) in that page, and the like,and the instruction 1408 includes that which depends on the resolutionof the printer engine.

FIG. 15 shows an example of the data configuration of the document. Asshown in FIG. 15, a page header 1501 indicating the first page includesa summary 1502 having attribute information “TEXT” and a summary 1503having attribute information “IMAGE”. To an object 1504 associated withthe summary 1502, vector data indicating the character edges ofcharacters “Hello” are linked. Also, to an object 1505, vector dataindicating the character edges of characters “World” are linked. To anobject 1506 associated with the summary 1503, for example, a photo imageof a butterfly in the JPEG format is linked. The summary 1502 refers toa character code string included in a field 1507 of the detailedinformation of the metadata, and the summary 1503 refers to imageinformation “butterfly” included in a field 1508 of the detailedinformation of the metadata. In this embodiment, for example, uponsearching text in a page using a keyword “World”, the field 1507 in thedetailed information of the metadata is referred to.

FIGS. 16A and 16B show examples of the document shown in FIG. 14, whichis allocated on a memory or file. FIG. 16A shows an example of thedocument shown in FIG. 14, which is allocated at addresses on thememory. As shown in FIG. 16A, a vector data area, metadata area, anddisplay list area of the document are allocated at arbitrary addresseson the memory. Arrows 1601, 1602, and 1603 indicate references from thevector data to the metadata, as described in FIG. 15. As shown in FIG.16B, a vector data area, metadata area, and display list area areserialized in a single file. In FIG. 16A, the vector data refers to themetadata using pointers. However, in FIG. 16B, the vector data refers tothe metadata using offset information.

Referring back to FIG. 5, the sequence of the transfer data selectionprocessing according to this embodiment will be described below. FIG. 17is a flowchart showing the sequence of the transfer data selectionprocessing according to the first embodiment of the present invention.In this embodiment, upon execution of the remote copy function, thelocal MFP can select data to be transmitted to the remote MFP, thusconsequently speeding up the remote copy processing.

The flowchart of FIG. 17 shows steps that follow step S504 in FIG. 5. Instep S1701, the CPU 305 checks if the resolution of the printer enginein the remote apparatus included in the apparatus information acquiredin step S504 shown in FIG. 5 matches that of the printer engine in thelocal apparatus (apparatus information determination means (unit)). Thatis, the CPU 305 checks if image output apparatus information matchesimage processing apparatus information associated with the localapparatus as the image processing apparatus. If the two resolutionsmatch, the process advances to step S1702. The CPU 305 selects thedisplay list from the generated document in step S1702, extracts thedisplay list in step S1704, and transmits the display list to the remoteapparatus in step S506 in FIG. 5. On the other hand, if the tworesolutions do not match, the process advances to step S1703. The CPU305 selects the vector data from the generated document in step S1703,extracts the vector data in step S1704, and transmits the vector data tothe remote apparatus in step S506 in FIG. 5.

As described above, for example, CPU 305 of the image processingapparatus according to this embodiment has data transmission means(unit) for transmitting the display list to the remote apparatus if theresolutions of the printer engines in the local and remote apparatusesmatch. Therefore, the need for the process for generating a display listfrom vector data in the remote apparatus can be obviated, and theprocessing in the remote apparatus can be sped up.

The processing on the remote apparatus side upon execution of the remotecopy mode will be described below. FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing theprocessing on the remote apparatus side upon execution of the remotecopy mode. The flowchart shown in FIG. 18 is executed by the CPU 305 ofthe control unit 300 of the remote MFP. Alternatively, the flowchartshown in FIG. 18 may be executed by any of the function blocks includedin the control unit 300 under the control of the CPU 305. Any of theMFPs shown in FIG. 1, for example, can execute remote copy receptionprocessing when it is designated as a remote apparatus in the remotecopy mode.

In step S1801, the CPU 305 receives document data from the localapparatus. The received document data includes the display list orvector data selected in FIG. 17. In step S1802, the CPU 305 executesdocument print processing, thus ending the processing.

A description will be given with reference to FIG. 1 again. In FIG. 1,when a remote copy is made from the MFP 1 to the MFP 2, the resolutionsof the printer engines do not match. Therefore, in this embodiment,vector data is selected from a document generated by the MFP 1, and istransmitted to the MFP 2. When a remote copy is made from the MFP 1 tothe MFP 3, the resolutions of the printer engines match. Therefore, inthis embodiment, a display list is selected and transmitted.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the sequence of transfer data selectionprocessing according to the second embodiment of the present invention.In this embodiment, the transfer data format is selected according to arenderer type.

The CPU 305 checks in step S1901 if a renderer type included inapparatus information acquired in step S504 in FIG. 5 matches that ofthe local apparatus (apparatus information determination means (unit)).As described above, since the renderer is generally implemented byhardware such as an ASIC or the like, the renderer type is informationdepending on the function of hardware. Therefore, apparatuses havingdifferent renderer types cannot process an identical display list asinstructions to the hardware. If the two renderer types match in stepS1901, the process advances to step S1902, and the CPU 305 selects adisplay list from a document; otherwise, the process advances to stepS1903, and the CPU 305 selects vector data from the document. Theprocess then advances to step S1904, and the CPU 305 extracts theselected data from the document. In step S506 shown in FIG. 5, the CPU305 transmits the extracted data to the remote apparatus.

In this embodiment, since the resolution of the printer engine in theremote apparatus is not referred to, even when the renderer types match,the resolutions of the printer engines in the local and remoteapparatuses do not often match. Therefore, even in such a case, thedisplay list is transmitted. The remote apparatus receives the displaylist, and renders the display list to bitmap data based on theresolution of the display list (that is, the resolution of the printerengine in the local apparatus). As a result, the rendered bitmap dataundergoes resolution conversion to the resolution of the printer enginein the remote apparatus, and image quality deteriorates due to theresolution conversion processing. However, since the need forre-generation of a display list in the remote apparatus can be obviated,the remote copy processing can be sped up.

The transfer data selection processing in this embodiment will bedescribed below with reference to FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, when a remote copyis made from the MFP 1 to the MFP 2, the renderer types match.Therefore, in this embodiment, a display list is selected, and istransmitted to the MFP 2. When a remote copy is made from the MFP 1 tothe MFP 3, the renderer types do not match. Therefore, in thisembodiment, vector data is selected, and is transmitted to the MFP 2.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the sequence of transfer data selectionprocessing according to the third embodiment of the present invention.In this embodiment, in addition to the first and second embodiments, theuser can designate an image quality or speed priority mode using theoperating unit 310, thus selecting the data format to be transmitted tothe remote apparatus.

FIG. 21 shows an example of a window displayed on the display unit ofthe operating unit when the user inputs a remote copy instruction inthis embodiment. When the resolutions of the printer engines in thelocal and remote apparatuses do not match, the user can designate one ofimage quality and speed priority modes using a button 2101. FIG. 21shows a state in which the user selects the “image quality priority”mode.

A description will be given with reference to FIG. 20 again. FIG. 20 isa flowchart that follows step S505 in FIG. 5. The CPU 305 checks in stepS2001 if a renderer type included in apparatus information acquired instep S504 matches that of the local apparatus (apparatus informationdetermination means (unit)). If the renderer types do not match, theprocess advances to step S2006 to select the vector data; otherwise, theprocess advances to step S2002. The CPU 305 checks in step S2002 if theresolution of the printer engine included in the apparatus informationmatches that of the printer engine in the local apparatus (apparatusinformation determination means (unit)). If the engine resolutionsmatch, the process advances to step S2005 to select the display list. Ifthe engine resolutions do not match, the process advances to step S2003.In step S2003, the CPU 305 acquires the user interface setting valuedesignated on the operating unit 310. The CPU 305 checks in step S2004which of “image quality priority” and “speed priority” modes the userdesignates. If the user designates the “image quality priority” mode,the process advances to step S2006 to select vector data. On the otherhand, if the user designates the “speed priority” mode, the processadvances to step S2005 to select a display list. In step S2007, the CPU305 extracts the selected data from the document, and transmits theextracted data to the remote apparatus as in the first and secondembodiments.

In this embodiment, when the resolution of the printer engine in theremote apparatus does not match, the user can designate one of the imagequality and speed priority modes. As a result, the user who attaches animportance on image quality can execute the remote copy processing withhigh image quality although speeding-up cannot be attained. On the otherhand, the user who attaches an importance on speed can executehigh-speed remote copy processing although image quality deterioratesdue to the resolution conversion processing.

The transfer data selection processing in this embodiment will bedescribed below using FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, when a remote copy is made fromthe MFP 1 to the MFP 2, the renderer types match. When the user selectsthe “image quality priority” mode, data to be transmitted is vectordata. On the other hand, when the user selects the “speed priority”mode, data to be transmitted is a display list.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing the sequence of transfer data selectionprocessing according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.In this embodiment, the data format to be transmitted to the remoteapparatus is selected according to a box save designation included inthe remote copy settings. As has been described above, the user candesignate the box save mode using the button 605 shown in FIG. 6. Theflowchart shown in FIG. 22 is executed by the CPU 305 of the controlunit 300 of the local MFP. Alternatively, the flowchart shown in FIG. 22may be executed by any of the function blocks included in the controlunit 300 under the control of the CPU 305.

In step S2201, the user sets an original on the scanner 301 of the MFP1, and inputs a remote copy execution start instruction from theoperating unit 310. Then, the control unit 300 receives the instructionfrom the user. Note that, for example, the user may set the remote copyfunction on the window in FIG. 6, and may input an execution startinstruction by pressing a copy start button as a hardware key (notshown). In step S2202, the local apparatus scans the original set on thescanner 301 and fetches an input image as image data (bitmap data). Instep S2203, the CPU 305 generates a document based on the fetched imagedata. In step S2204, the CPU 305 acquires the remote copy setting valuesdesignated using the user interface, and the process advances to stepS2205. The CPU 305 checks in step S2205 with reference to the acquiredsetting values if the user designates a box save mode. If the user doesnot designate a box save mode, the process advances to step S2206, andthe CPU 305 executes transfer data selection processing. In step S2206,the CPU 305 can execute the processing described using FIG. 17, 19, or20. On the other hand, if the user designates the box save mode in stepS2205, the process advances to step S2207, and the CPU 305 selectsvector data and metadata from the document. In this embodiment, evenwhen the data is more likely to undergo a search or to be re-transferredafter it is saved in the box, since the metadata is transmitted togetherwith the vector data, the search or the like is facilitated. In stepS2209, the CPU 305 transmits the selected data to the remote apparatus.

In this embodiment, in the remote copy mode, not only the document isprinted on a paper medium, but also required data is saved in the box ofthe remote apparatus side as metadata, thus recursively re-usingdocument data. For example, data saved in the box on the remoteapparatus side can be searched, and the document data can be furtherremote-copied from the remote apparatus to another remote apparatus. Thetransfer data selection processing of this embodiment will be describedbelow with reference to FIG. 23. FIG. 23 shows an example when the userdesignates the box save mode upon execution of the remote copyprocessing from the MFP 1 to the MFP 2. In this case, vector data andmetadata are transmitted to the MFP 2 to be printed out, and are alsosaved in the HDD of the MFP 2.

The present invention includes a case wherein an operating system (OS)running on a computer executes some or all of actual processes based onan instruction of program (image processing program) codes, therebyimplementing the functions of the aforementioned embodiments.Furthermore, the present invention can also be applied to a case whereinthe program codes read out from a storage medium are written in a memoryequipped on a function expansion card or function expansion unit whichis inserted into or connected to the computer. Then, a CPU or the likeequipped on the function expansion card or unit executes some or all ofactual processes based on the written program codes, therebyimplementing the functions of the aforementioned embodiments.

The present invention may be applied to either a system constituted by aplurality of devices, or an apparatus consisting of a single piece ofequipment (e.g., scanner, printer, PC, copying machine, MFP, andfacsimile apparatus). The present invention is also achieved when asoftware program that implements the functions of the aforementionedembodiments is directly or remotely supplied to a system or apparatus,and a computer included in that system or the like reads out andexecutes the supplied program codes. Therefore, the program codesthemselves installed in the computer may implement the presentinvention. That is, the present invention includes the computer programitself required to implement the aforementioned functions and processes.In this case, the form of program may be an object code, a program to beexecuted by an interpreter, script data to be supplied to an OS, and thelike as long as they have the program function. As a recording mediumused to supply the program, for example, a flexible disk, hard disk,optical disk, magneto-optical disk, MO, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, and thelike may be used. Furthermore, as the recording medium, a magnetic tape,nonvolatile memory card, ROM, DVD (DVD-ROM, DVD-R), and the like mayalso be used.

The program may be downloaded from a Web site on the Internet orintranet using a browser of a client computer. That is, the program maybe downloaded from the Web site as the computer program itself of thepresent invention or a compressed file including an automaticinstallation function to a recording medium such as a hard disk or thelike. The program codes that form the program of the present inventionmay be segmented into a plurality of files, which may be downloaded fromdifferent Web sites. That is, program files required to implement thefunction processing of the present invention by a computer may bedownloaded from a WWW (World Wide Web) server by a plurality of users.Also, a storage medium such as a CD-ROM or the like, which stores theencrypted program of the present invention, may be delivered to users.In this case, only users who have cleared a predetermined condition maydownload key information that can decrypt the encrypted program from aWeb site via a network, may decrypt the encrypted program using the keyinformation, and may install the decrypted program in their computers.The functions of the embodiments of the present invention may beimplemented when a computer executes the readout program.

In the first to third embodiments, after apparatus information isacquired, the data format to be transmitted to the remote apparatus isselected. However, for example, a display list may be transmitted inadvance, and if the resolutions or renderer types do not match, theremote apparatus may transmit vector data to the local apparatus. As aresult, the present invention can be easily applied to a case whereinthe local apparatus cannot acquire apparatus information of the remoteapparatus in advance. The format of the display list is not particularlylimited as long as it is resolution-dependent rendering data. Therefore,an arrangement having a renderer which uses compressed data of renderedbitmap image data as a display list so that the compressed data isdecompressed at the remote apparatus may be adopted.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2007-183644, filed Jul. 12, 2007, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

1. An image processing apparatus for transmitting output data to anexternal image output apparatus according to a remote copy instruction,the apparatus comprising: a resolution-independent data generation unitconfigured to generate resolution-independent data, which does notdepend on a resolution, from input data; a resolution-dependent datageneration unit configured to generate resolution-dependent data, whichdepends on a resolution and is used to be rendered to bitmap data, fromthe resolution-independent data generated by said resolution-independentdata generation unit; a saving unit configured to save theresolution-independent data generated by said resolution-independentdata generation unit and the resolution-dependent data generated by saidresolution-dependent data generation unit; an apparatus informationacquisition unit configured to acquire image output apparatusinformation associated with the image output apparatus; an apparatusinformation determination unit configured to determine whether or notthe image output apparatus information matches image processingapparatus information associated with said image processing apparatus;and a data transmission unit configured to, when said apparatusinformation determination unit determines that the image outputapparatus information matches the image processing apparatusinformation, transmit the resolution-dependent data as the output data.2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said data transmissionunit transmits the resolution-independent data as the output data whensaid apparatus information determination unit determines that the imageoutput apparatus information does not match the image processingapparatus information.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe image output apparatus information and the image processingapparatus information respectively include information indicating outputresolutions of the image output apparatus and said image processingapparatus.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imageoutput apparatus information and the image processing apparatusinformation respectively include information indicating rasterizersincluded in the image output apparatus and said image processingapparatus.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imageoutput apparatus information and the image processing apparatusinformation respectively include information indicating outputresolutions of the image output apparatus and said image processingapparatus, and information indicating rasterizers included in the imageoutput apparatus and said image processing apparatus, said apparatusinformation determination unit determines whether or not the informationindicating the output resolution of the image output apparatus matchesthe information indicating the output resolution of said imageprocessing apparatus when the information indicating the rasterizerincluded in the image output apparatus matches the informationindicating the rasterizer included in said image processing apparatus,and when said apparatus information determination unit determines thatthe information indicating the output resolution of the image outputapparatus does not match the information indicating the outputresolution of said image processing apparatus, if a speed priority modein remote copy processing is designated by a user's operation, said datatransmission unit transmits the resolution-dependent data, and if animage quality priority mode in remote copy processing is designated by auser's operation, said data transmission unit transmits theresolution-independent data.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 1,further comprising: an additional information data generation unitconfigured to generate additional information data, which is appended tothe input data as additional information and is used to search for theinput data, from the input data; and a search unit configured to searchfor the input data using the additional information data, wherein saidsaving unit saves the resolution-independent data, theresolution-dependent data, and the additional information dataassociated with the input data, in association with each other.
 7. Theapparatus according to claim 6, wherein when the output data isinstructed to be saved in a storage area in the image output apparatusby a user's operation, said data transmission unit transmits theresolution-independent data and the additional information data as theoutput data, and when the output data is instructed not to be saved inthe storage area in the image output apparatus by a user's operation,said apparatus information determination unit determines whether or notthe image output apparatus information matches the image processingapparatus information associated with said image processing apparatus,and when said apparatus information determination unit determines thatthe image output apparatus information matches the image processingapparatus information, said data transmission unit transmits theresolution-dependent data as the output data.
 8. An image processingmethod for transmitting output data to an external image outputapparatus according to a remote copy instruction, the method comprising:a resolution-independent data generation step of generatingresolution-independent data, which does not depend on a resolution, frominput data; a resolution-dependent data generation step of generatingresolution-dependent data, which depends on a resolution and is used tobe rendered to bitmap data, from the generated resolution-independentdata; a saving step of saving the generated resolution-independent dataand the generated resolution-dependent data; an apparatus informationacquisition step of acquiring image output apparatus informationassociated with the image output apparatus; an apparatus informationdetermination step of determining whether or not the image outputapparatus information matches image processing apparatus informationassociated with an image processing apparatus; and a data transmissionstep of transmitting, when it is determined that the image outputapparatus information matches the image processing apparatusinformation, the resolution-dependent data as the output data.
 9. Acomputer-readable medium storing a program for transmitting output datato an external image output apparatus according to a remote copyinstruction, the program causing a computer to function to: generateresolution-independent data, which does not depend on a resolution, frominput data; generate resolution-dependent data, which depends on aresolution and is used to be rendered to bitmap data, from the generatedresolution-independent data; save the generated resolution-independentdata and the generated resolution-dependent data; acquire image outputapparatus information associated with the image output apparatus;determine whether or not the image output apparatus information matchesimage processing apparatus information associated with an imageprocessing apparatus; and transmit, when it is determined that the imageoutput apparatus information matches the image processing apparatusinformation, the resolution-dependent data as the output data.
 10. Animage processing apparatus for transmitting output data to an externalimage output apparatus according to a remote copy instruction, theapparatus comprising: a resolution-independent data generation unitconfigured to generate resolution-independent data, which does notdepend on a resolution, from input data; an additional information datageneration unit configured to generate additional information data,which is appended to the input data as additional information and isused to search for the input data, from the input data; aresolution-dependent data generation unit configured to generateresolution-dependent data, which is used to be rendered to bitmap dataand depends on a resolution, from the resolution-independent datagenerated by said resolution-independent data generation unit; a savingunit configured to save the resolution-independent data generated bysaid resolution-independent data generation unit, the additionalinformation data generated by said additional information generationunit, and the resolution-dependent data generated by saidresolution-dependent data generation unit; and a data transmission unitconfigured to, when the output data is instructed to be saved in astorage area in the image output apparatus by a user's operation,transmit the resolution-independent data and the additional informationdata as the output data.